Oil-soaked penguins rescued in South Africa

An African penguin is washed with a toothbrush by staff at the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) after it was found covered in oil on Robben Island near Cape Town, South Africa, Sept. 5.

Schalk Van Zuydam / AP

An African penguin is washed by staff at the SANCCOB.

Approximately 55 African penguins that were found covered in oil were being cleaned by staff from the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds on Wednesday. The penguins, which were found on Robben Island near Cape Town, South Africa, will be released into the wild after cleaning. The oil leaked from the Turkish stricken bulk carrier Seli One, according to the Associated Press. According to the South African Broadcasting Corporation,

The Seli One was hit by a storm at Dolphin Beach on Friday, which resulted in a wreckage that leaked the oil. More than a kilometer of the coastline was polluted and the run-off streaks are continuing to spread. The oil is not expected to move further north, but the City of Cape Town has still appealed to the Transport Department to remove the Seli One from the coastline.Continue reading.

Schalk Van Zuydam / AP

An African penguin is washed by staff at SANCCOB.

Schalk Van Zuydam / AP

An African penguin drys under a warm light after being washed by staff at SANCCOB.